E. · Sniper Rifle
Springfield M1903A4
Bolt action · .30-06 Springfield · introduced 1943
Also known as M1903A4, Springfield 1903A4, U.S. Rifle, Caliber .30, M1903A4 (Sniper's)
About the Springfield M1903A4
The Springfield M1903A4 is a bolt-action sniper rifle adopted by the United States in 1943 as its first purpose-issued sniper variant of the M1903 Springfield. Built by Remington on the simplified M1903A3 production line, it was fitted with a Redfield scope base and a Weaver 330C 2.5x telescopic sight (military designation M73B1), and the bolt handle was reshaped to clear the scope. It carried no iron sights and fed from a five-round internal box magazine chambered in .30-06 Springfield. The M1903A4 served in every theater of World War II and remained in use through Korea and into the early Vietnam War.
Developed to meet urgent demand for a dedicated sniping rifle in the Pacific, the M1903A4 was the U.S. military's first standardized scoped sniper rifle and the last bolt-action sniper rifle adopted as standard issue by the U.S. armed forces.
Springfield M1903A4 specifications
General
- Type
- Sniper Rifle
- Action
- Bolt action
- Firing mechanism
- Hammer-fired
- Trigger
- Single action
- Calibres
- .30-06 Springfield
- Magazine capacity
- 5 rounds
- Magazine
- Fixed box
Dimensions
- Barrel length
- 610 mm (24.0 in)
- Overall length
- 1098 mm (43.2 in)
- Weight (empty)
- 4.34 kg (9.57 lb)
Barrel
- Rifling twist
- 1:10 in (254 mm)
- Rifling
- Right hand
- Grooves
- 4
Materials
- Barrel
- Steel
- Receiver / frame
- Steel
- Stock
- Walnut
- Finish
- parkerized
Performance
- Muzzle velocity (typical)
- 823 m/s (2700 fps)
- Muzzle energy (typical)
- 3950 J (2913 ft·lb)
- Effective range
- 550 m
History
- Introduced
- 1943
- Discontinued
- 1944
- Production status
- Discontinued
- Country of origin
- US
- Designer
- Springfield Armory / Remington Arms
Features
- Telescopic sight
- Offset bolt handle
- No iron sights
- Redfield scope mount
Safety
- Manual safety
The low 2.5x magnification, narrow field of view and non-waterproof Weaver scope were the rifle's chief limitations rather than the action itself. The M1903A4 was replaced in front-line service by the semi-automatic M1C/M1D Garand sniper rifles.
